Daily Republican., 1887-02-22
wAsHINarOH LErrss.
rr.n oar Regular Correspondent.


WASHINGTON. Feb 21.-The session
is slipping r~pidly to tts close, ind
Con gress 10 trying to make the best use
OF rs brief life b. dispensing ~ much
az possible with business OF o private
character. Among the important mat.
ters that have had attention during the
past week may be mentioned the Teh :.
uantepec Snip Railway bill, the rivers
and harbors bill and the Sundry Civil,
the spti-Polygamy Bill, and halt =
dozen measures appropriating millions
of dollars for ships Of WAT and coast
defenses.
The fret Mexican pension was made
by Com missioner Black on last Friday,
and the beneficiary WAS ex Senator
Williams, of Kentucky. Ever aimee
the battle of Oerro Gordo. whore he
greatly distinguished himself, he has
been known ~ ''Cerro Gordo WilliAms. !"
The application for the allowance WA
filed In the com missioner's ONCE ct IL
o. clock that morning and the pension
certificate went ont In the afternoons
mall for Louisville.
The ciAmor for change of inaugu.
ration day from the Ash Of March, TO
working days of the present Congress
have become alarminRly few, and the
danger more apparent that nothing.
may be done towards this desirable re-
forn. The trouble 10 that II the pro.
posed amendment does not get through
Congress by the end OF this session, 1t
cannot be ratified by the States In time
to 60 into effect - part OF the Fede raj
CONSTITUTION in the Spr Ing Of 1889.
There Is no opposition to the change,
but on the contrary every body scknowl
ed es that IL would be Just lovely" to
have the inaugural ceremonies at the
most delightful time of the year. If
the Republican Senate is willing to ex
tend President Cleveland's term by
eight weeks, 10 one can see why the
Democsatio Houss should not be more
so.
Tbs recent broadside which Senator
Hoer aimed Of his associates, who were
derelict about being present Mt the
Chaplain's opening prayer, has had the
effect Of increasing the number OF Ssr q.
tors In the chamber At that hour. Ten
used to be the average attendance but
now 1t lie nearly thirty. The Massa.
chus etts Senator has been congrstulat-
ing himse over his success ana has re-
ceived worm commsndstiCntroin Chap
lain Butler, who, of course, deeply felt
the disrespect shown 10 the M rn.pg
devotions BY this uhpray erful body.
Out OF the whole Senate full there az Q
only seven gentlemen who are always
at prayer aud show noticeAb fervor
These are Senators Plumb, Blair, Hoar,
Mcmillan, Teller, Brown and General
Eawley. Tie others present seem
wondering sill the time how long the
prayer 10 going TO last While the
Chaplain has the floor, Senator
Evarts strokes his chin and watches
the clock; 9enator Malone twitches
fnervously and looks over his papers on
the desk; Senator Vest buttons and IN
buttons his cost; another lie tWirling the
ring on his finger, or w.zG.L.. 10
watch, or caressing his mustsche, or
Hunting for something in his pocket,
and Senator Gall is accused OF trying
to mahe his hair stand out tylishly
from his ears.
| But Senator Hoar stands beside his
desk with head bent, eyes closed, and
hands clasped. He docs not change his
attitude until the Chap ain has descended
from the presidents desk. Senstor
Plumb usually leans his elbow on his
desk during prayer, his face resting Oh
his hand. He sometimes converses with
the Chaplain afterwards on the subject Of
the prayer, which indicates that he must
be piCusly attentive.
Gen. Hawley's religious devotion Il
,equally pronounced. The moment the
lprayer begins he stands up, and bends hii
head low over his folded arms. Some
times he remains in this position for seve
raj moments afterwards, apparently il
meditation. Imagine score of Sena
tors smoking in the Hobbies and as many
more drinking cold tea in the restauran
beneath, and the prayer scene In the Uni
Il ted States is complete. X.